Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 39
Chapter Thirty-One
Tika was irritated that she was still unsteady on her feet but Navan moved up beside her, his arm and shoulder unobtrusively supporting her as she moved towards the gijan Elder. Sket was at her left side, nearly as wobbly as she was but refusing to abandon his post as her personal Guard. Tika didn’t dare risk bowing, she suspected she’d end up flat on her face, so she merely inclined her head and hoped she wasn’t offending the Elder.
‘I am Tika, soul bond of Farn.’ Her voice at least sounded strong enough and Farn’s chin rested comfortingly on the top of her head.
Gan approached from beyond Navan and they saw the Elder stood eye to eye with him, if she wasn’t fractionally taller. But Flute had eyes only for Tika at the moment. She stared down at the small human. But was she entirely human? What did those silvered eyes mean? Clearly she was weak, physically and more so mentally, and Flute was unsurprised. To take on one of the monstrous Children and destroy her was more than the Elder Races had been able to achieve.
‘I would know of your trial with Valesh.’ Flute paused. ‘Shall we sit more comfortably? I see you are not recovered.’
Knowing how the three young gijan never sat on the ground, Tika wondered if Flute intended to remain standing, towering over them all even more. Flute read her thoughts and, with a smile, sat gracefully on the ground, both her enormous wings swept to one side. Everyone followed Flute’s example and it was as Ren and Maressa sat close to Sket that Flute saw the three gijan still flat on their faces. She stared at them, then at Tika.
‘Who are these gijan children?’ she asked, her voice taking on a low melodic tone. ‘Rise and answer me.’
Leaf was on her feet first, followed by Piper and lastly Willow. Their expressions reminded Tika of the cowed little faces of the slaves she’d first met in the City of the Domes.
‘I brought them from the Domes,’ Tika said before Flute could say more. ‘They said they were litter mates, so instead of bringing one as I’d planned, I brought all three.’
Flute stared at Tika again, then back at the gijan. ‘They have their wings,’ she said.
Tika shrugged, wincing at the pull of her healing burn. ‘I was shown what I should do to release their wings but I’m afraid I didn’t know the songs that should be sung at such a time.’
‘Your names children?’
One by one the three stepped one pace forward, bowed and gave Flute their names. Her eyes narrowed then she nodded, looking back at Tika.
‘They gave you their lives?’ she asked.
Tika remembered how each gijan when they’d recovered from the agony of having their wings released, had given her their names followed by the words “my life is yours”.
‘They did,’ she agreed. ‘And they have redeemed that vow – they found Sket and me trapped inside the rock. And you,’ she continued more boldly than she felt. ‘I was told there were no Elders in this world.’
Flute leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. ‘Two hundred and twenty one of us were suspended in time.’ Her head, covered with dark curls which tangled down her spine, tilted one side then the other, a glint of amusement lighting her eyes.
Tika frowned: Flute was teasing her – what did she mean? ‘The Dome,’ she exclaimed. ‘The statues in the Dome!’
She was filled with both horror and sorrow at the idea of this magnificently beautiful creature being somehow frozen in motionless silence since the final battle a thousand years past. Flute studied her clasped hands.
‘We searched for the young gijan when you released us from Valesh’s spell.’
Tika put two and two together and guessed that the Elders must have been freed when Valesh was unmade. Flute glanced up briefly, her eyes blazing.
‘We killed those humans who tried to stop us.’ She dropped her gaze again. ‘The children have been taken to safety. Also, the Ship, Star Singer. He too is free.’
Ren stiffened. In what context was the Elder using the word “free”?
‘Singer was not destroyed?’ he asked urgently.
Flute looked at him for the first time and was startled to see his eyes were silvered like Tika’s.
‘Destroyed? Of course not. He flew as we did. He said he was going south east to the island of Wendla.’
Tika and Maressa both found they were in tears, to Flute’s consternation.
‘Was that wrong of him? Why do you weep?’
‘No, no.’ Tika wiped inelegantly at her face with her sleeve. ‘He said he couldn’t fly anymore. He must be trying to reach Star Flower.’
‘There is another Ship?’
‘There are several I think.’
Khosa stalked towards the Elder Flute carrying a mouse in her teeth. She offered it to the Elder and sat primly while Akomi hurried to join her. To the companions’ surprise, Flute reached a talon to stroke between Khosa’s ears, then did the same to Akomi.
‘It is long indeed since I have even seen one of your kind, little sister.’ Flute spoke simultaneously aloud and in their minds. ‘I have missed the company of your folk.’
Khosa arched her back beneath Flute’s hand and rubbed against her knees. Akomi was shyer until Flute encouraged him to press closer. Now it was Flute’s turn to weep. She held both cats in her arms for a moment, her face buried in orange and mottled brown furry backs.
‘A bowl of tea would be welcome,’ Sket said loudly.
Gan laughed and began to unpack one of their bags while Navan bent to rekindle their fire. Tika and Sket, followed by Farn, made their way across to the Elder. She looked up as they approached. It was a touch disconcerting to discover they were barely taller than Flute even sitting on the ground as she was. Flute looked over Tika’s shoulder and saw the young gijan perched on Brin’s back.
‘They must begin their training quickly,’ she said. ‘I have summoned one of my litter mates. He was one of our best tutors of the young. I think those three may have difficulties.’
Tika nodded. ‘We have let them do more or less as they please I’m afraid, but when we have scolded them they have just flown away. Seela,’ Tika faltered. ‘Seela was the only one of us who had any real influence over them.’
‘Seela?’
Sket’s arm was round Tika’s waist and it was Farn who sent the Elder a mental picture of the huge purple Dragon Seela who had died to give Tika the time to unmake Valesh. The Elder hooked both Tika and Sket closer, aware through Farn of the grief that still filled all this company.
‘We had planned to travel on, when you came.’ Tika managed to control her tears yet again.
‘Perhaps you would consider staying here until Rainbow can reach us? I think there is much we must talk of before I can advise you – if my advice would be of any help.’
‘Oh it would.’ Tika felt the reassurance from this ancient Elder that she was used to feeling in Fenj’s company, and she was so very tired of carrying all the responsibility of this strange journey.
Sket nodded his approval and Flute suddenly grinned at him.
‘I have yet to taste tea again – I have drunk water only since I left the Domes, and it is a thousand years since my last bowl.’
Sket was appalled: he couldn’t survive without frequent doses of the stuff. Flute’s laughter rang out across the ruined farmyard and heads turned to see what caused the Elder’s amusement. She got to her feet, Khosa and Akomi marching in front of her. She leaned forward to touch her brow to Farn’s and his eyes whirred: clearly she said something to his mind. Flute took Sket’s left arm near the elbow and Tika’s right hand and walked them slowly back to the barn. She paused to speak to both Brin and Storm but paid no attention to the young gijan pretending, Tika was fairly sure, to be asleep on Brin’s back.
They talked all day; at least, the companions did while Flute listened with close attention. Akomi seemed to find comfort in the presence of the Elder and tried his best to keep her lap to himself. Jakri spoke of how his Emperor and Wendlan Mages had been aware of the machinations of the Maleshan witch Vorna long before anyone other than Taseen had suspicions of her here. Ren described Drogoya, and how Cho Petak was bringing ruin to his land. Maressa told of life in Vagrantia and the strange illness that had struck her people as well as those of Ren’s Drogoya. Gan explained what he had pieced together of his people’s arrival in the lands near Spine Mountains.
Tika had the most to tell, from the time of her running away from Hargon’s slavery to the present time. It was mid afternoon before the Elder had heard of all their trials and tribulations and she suggested a rest: Tika and Sket were almost asleep where they sat. Navan was worrying about finding food. They had intended to move on today precisely because their supplies were so low. Storm rattled his wings.
‘I can fetch fish again for you,’ he suggested eagerly.
‘I’ll come too, but I’ll wait on the shore!’ Navan got to his feet and went to climb on Storm’s back.
‘We must find somewhere we can reprovision Lady Flute,’ Gan said when Navan and Storm had departed.
She nodded. ‘I understand. It will be best to go north, towards the desert again. There was less damage from the earthquakes that way.’
Gan stooped to pull a blanket over Tika’s shoulders. He moved closer to the Elder.
‘If you want Lady Tika to fight the Bound One in the desert, there is no way I will permit her to do any such thing while she is so very weak.’
Farn’s eyes suddenly flashed. ‘I will not allow it either,’ he said firmly.
Elder Flute didn’t answer; instead she rose swiftly and stood at the open side of the barn. Gan could see a dark shape flying fast from the north, directly for them.
‘Rainbow,’ was all Flute said.
The Elder landed beside Flute and they embraced, the newcomer’s dark violet under feathers briefly visible when he folded them against his back. When he moved into the barn it was immediately apparently that he had listened as he flew, through his litter mate’s mind, to the companions’ stories. He walked straight to Brin, raising a hand to the crimson Dragon’s face.
‘We feared all of your Kindred were lost, brother. How glad I am to see those fears were unfounded.’
Rainbow went from Brin to Maressa, stooping over her to greet her gently. He clasped Gan’s shoulder.
‘We have a thousand years of information to catch up on Captain Gan, and many new people to learn of.’
He had words of greeting for Ren and Jakri and then stood staring down at Tika and Sket. Even though they were both asleep, the Elder bowed deeply, his wings flaring out over the floor behind him. He straightened, his hand reaching to Farn’s scarred neck. Farn’s eyes whirred pearl and sapphire as Rainbow spoke to his mind. Finally Rainbow turned again to Brin and said something in the trilling language of the gijan. He waited a moment and repeated himself, his tone now cold and sharp.
The young gijan, with obvious reluctance, slid from Brin’s back and stood before Rainbow. Both Jakri and Ren noticed their glances in Tika’s direction and moved to sit discreetly blocking Tika from their view.
‘We will use the common tongue’, said Rainbow, his voice much milder. ‘It is too rude to use a language others do not comprehend.’
Leaf raised her chin to stare up at the Elder – her head barely reached much above his waist. Rainbow held her stare.
‘These good friends busy themselves preparing food and drink,’ Rainbow continued. ‘It would seem you have no part to play in such work.’ His head tilted to one side as his words were met with stubborn silence. He sighed. ‘It is late in the day but I command you to fly. Circle above this place and let me judge your abilities.’
The three gijan children hurried to the barn’s open side, clearly relieved, but they were brought to a halt by Rainbow’s next words.
‘I have commanded you to fly. And you will fly until I command you to land once more.’
There was a brief silence during which Flute settled by the fire, her wings swept to one side. Gan was pouring tea into bowls for Flute and Rainbow. He smiled broadly as they took the bowls and inhaled the fragrant steam blissfully. He suspected Sket at least would lose his sanity should he have to forego his precious tea for a ten day and yet these Elders had survived a thousand years since their last taste of the stuff. He waited while they savoured their drinks.
‘Will the gijan not land somewhere out of sight?’ he asked, refilling their bowls. ‘I know my recruits would creep off somewhere, to avoid such an order.’
Rainbow smiled, small pointed teeth briefly revealed. ‘I have spelled the air. They can only fly within its limits.’
Gan digested Rainbow’s comment. Jakri chuckled and Maressa nodded. She would never have thought to manipulate air to form a cage but she could see how it might be done. Khosa approached, carrying another mouse corpse to Rainbow. No one had noticed what Flute had done with her gift but they now watched Rainbow take the mouse from Khosa, tilt his head back and swallow the mouse with scarcely a gulp. Ren closed his own mouth with a snap that jarred his teeth. Khosa sat facing Rainbow and mind spoke the company.
‘You have not yet been told of Namolos.’
Gan bit his lip. Tika hadn’t mentioned either Grek or Namolos: was it this arrogant Kephi queen’s place to do so? But Khosa was already explaining that Namolos was another Survivor, living on an island in the western sea. Namolos had somehow altered himself, or his mind at least, and was now one of the strongest users of power Khosa had heard of.
‘How far is the distance that you could mind speak each other?’ she asked Rainbow.
He shrugged. ‘Flute called me from here when I was on the eastern desert coast. There was no difficulty in our reaching each other.’
‘That is further than I could ever manage,’ Maressa admitted. ‘I can contact a mage in Harbour City – that is perhaps twenty, thirty leagues? But I cannot far speak much more than that. A Wendlan Mage – Jakri’s mother Oniko – speaks from Wendla to Harbour City and that is the furthest of any I’ve known.’
Navan and Storm came back with fish and were introduced to Rainbow. The Elder spoke for some time to the sea Dragon, questioning him about the strange healing worked on Mist by the silver Dragon of Talvo. By the time the fish was baking, Tika and Sket had roused again. Rainbow and Flute then watched closely while Jakri and Maressa changed the dressings on their injuries. Farn as always became disturbed when Sket’s hand was uncovered revealing the loss of his fingers. Even Tika wasn’t sure why such injuries distressed her soul bond to the extent they did.
Flute lifted Tika’s wrist and studied the palm of the hand. Rainbow put a talon against the curled in fingers, gently trying to pull them straight. Jakri watched.
‘I was unsure whether to bind them flat,’ he confessed. ‘The burn was to the bone.’
When the Elders stared at him in some surprise, he raised a shoulder in a half shrug. ‘The gijan children healed her this much, but they said they could do no more.’
There was a flurry of tension between the two Elders before Rainbow replied.
‘They should not have even attempted healing. I understand why they did of course, but with no training they could have caused even worse damage.’
He settled cross legged at Tika’s side, cradling the back of her hand in his own.
‘Will you trust me little Lady Tika?’ Black eyes stared into green and Tika nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
‘They have merely covered the bones with skin,’ he explained gently. ‘There is no flesh, no muscle. I can mend that.’
Tika nodded again. Rainbow smiled and Tika’s eyes closed immediately. The Elder cupped his free hand over her burnt palm and bowed his head. The companions felt power building around the Elder and Tika and sat, scarcely daring to breathe. Time ceased to exist as Rainbow sat, his body relaxed, his head bowed, beside Tika. At last his head came up and his eyes opened. Tika opened her eyes at the same instant, looking first at Rainbow in awed recognition, then down at her hand. She exclaimed and held it out for her friends to see.
It had a sheen of soreness about it but the skin was plumped out and her fingers straightened and flexed with a certain stiffness but clearly without causing her pain. Rainbow gave Sket a sad smile.
‘I cannot remake what is lost.’
Sket grinned. ‘I keep telling everyone, especially my Lady, two fingers more or less is no bother to me.’
‘Erm, Elder Rainbow,’ Maressa began. ‘It is dark outside.’
Rainbow nodded. ‘But only just. A little longer will not hurt.’
Tika gave Ren a questioning glance and he murmured an explanation.
‘There is another burn.’ Rainbow pointed at Tika’s chest.
‘It is well healed,’ Jakri told him.
‘I would still see it.’
Jakri unbuttoned Tika’s shirt and loosened the bandage he’d wrapped right round her chest. Again the Elder bent forward, cupping his hand over the still angry burn. When he removed his hand there was an oval scar which looked as though it was from a long healed wound.
‘Thank you,’ was all Tika could say.
‘Food’s ready,’ Navan reminded them, and while they sat around the fire, Rainbow went to the entrance of the barn.
Moments later the gijan children stood before him and this time all three bowed deeply. Rainbow indicated the fire and the dishes of food with a casual flick of his hand and Leaf led her litter mates to stand beside Navan. He kept his expression blank as he heaped three bowls with the baked fish and a few mashed grains and handed them up to the gijan. They took their food, bowed to Navan and retreated to eat on Brin’s back. A change from the way they usually grabbed what they wanted when they pleased – the same thought was in all the companions’ minds.
‘I would ask what caused your burns Lady Tika,’ Flute asked.
Tika reached beneath her blankets and withdrew her leather pouch.
